Window-shade machine.



Patentednov. I9, |90l.

FY. L. FISHER. wmnow sHAna mAcHmE.

(Application led July 17, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(N o Model.)

A Tron/v5 rs Nn. 67,|45. rammed Nov. I9, |901.-

' F. L. FISHER. WINDOW SHADE MACHINE.

(Application led July 17, 1901.)

' 2 She'ets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A TTOHNE Y S UNrTaD f STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK L. FISHER, OF CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND;

WINDOW-SHADE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,145, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed J'uly 1'7, 1901.

T all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cumberland, in the county of Allegany and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window Shade Machines, of which the following is a 4specification.

My invention is an improvement in machines for use in making window shades or curtains, and has for an object to provide a novel construction by which the shade may be trimmed offon its side edges to any desired Width and can be cutoff at anydesired length and in which the'ends will be creased in such manner as to form a guide for folding over the strip to bar at the free end of the curtain, so the hem can be produced regularly and uniformly, as desired; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations 0f parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof. 3 is a. detail side elevation of a portion of the upper part of the machine on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3a is a detail View, partly in section, illustrating some of the constructions shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the gage stop mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional perspective of the cutting apparatus, dac.; and Fig. Gis a detail side View of the rotating cutters. Fig. 7 shows a somewhat different form of cutter, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of the hollow winding-rod with a curtain-roller therein.

In carrying out my invention I provide cutters for trimming the side edges of the curtain, a knife for cutting the curtain off at its ends, creasers for forming the guides for the insertion of the stick and the production of the end, and a gage stop mechanism which can be adjusted to regulate the length of the curtain.

The machine as shown includes a' frame for supporting the several parts, having the end top bars A, on which are supported parts of the operating devices, as presently described.

For trimming the side edges of the curtain I provide the machine with shafts B and C,

Fig.

Serial No. 68,619. (No model.)

journaled. at their ends in the framing and provided with the circular cutters B and C', which are slidable on their shafts and can be Vadjusted to trim the shades different widths.

`between their respective cutters and a collar B4, which is secured on the shaft B by means of a set-screw B5, so theI said collar may be adjusted to and held in any position desired.

The top cut- Each shaft B and C is provided, preferably L immediately next to its cutters, with feedrollers B6 and C6, between which the shade passes and by which the shade is fed forward from a reel-shaft D over a guide-roller D'.

'By the described construction the shade is fed to the rollers B6 and C6 and will be fed forward by such rollers, whose shafts operate the cutters to trim off the side edges of the shades.

A hollow winding-rod E is arranged in rear of the cutters B and C of the end knife and creasers presently described and has at one end a spindle which passes through the closedl bracket E and carries a small pulley E2, which is driven by a belt E3 from a large pulley E4 on the end of the upper shaft B. The other end of the winding-rod is fitted in an open bracket, so it can be readily removed in order to slip the shade 0d as desired. The upper shaft B is provided at its end opposite the pulley f E4 with a toothed pinion b, which operates the rack of the gage stop mechanism hereinafter described.

For driving the feed-rollers B and C power is suitably applied preferably to the lower roller C by hand, it' desired, or by gearing it up with a suitable source of power.

For cutting off the ends of the shades I emrploy a cutter-plate F, which'extends from side f IOO straps H ou the creasing-head H, such straps being secured to the head I-I and reaching over the cutter-plate F, as shown. This creasing-head H is also provided at H2 with openings through which the knife-rods F pass to the bed-plate G, so the bed-plate, creaser-head, and knife F are held in the desired relation at all times. Tubes Il3 are secured at their upper ends preferably by threading to the creaser-head and extend thence downwardly through openings in the bed-plate G to a point below said bed-plate, so the lower ends of the tubes H3 can be operated upon by the projection on the vertical operating-rods presently described. It will be noticed that the creaser-head is provided on its under side with depending longitudinally-extendin g creasing-plates h,which enter corresponding grooves g in the bed-plate and crease the shade material when the creasinghead is lowered into contact with the bedplate in the operation of the device, as presently described.

The operating-rods I extend through the tubes H and projectupwardly to a point adjacent to the upper end of the knife-rods F and downwardly so they can connect by pitman t' or other suitable means with crankarms on the knife-operating shaft J, which shaft is provided with a hand-lever J', so it can be operated to raise and lower the operating-rods I whenever it is desired to operate the end-cutter F and the creasing-head before described. The rod I is suitably threaded to receive nuts I', I2, and I3, so such parts may be adj listed as desired. Set-screws may be provided, as shown at 3, to secure the nuts in anydesired adjustment and manifestly where desired the nuts may be simply fitted on the shafts I without threads and be held in any suitable adjustment by the setscrews 3; but I prefer the construction shown and before described.

The nut I' is preferably provided with a groove at i to receive a pin fon the kniferod F. The nut I2 is arranged to overlie the creasing-head, so it will engage with such head and depress it subsequent to the initial downward movement of the `cutter F. The nut 13 is arranged below the lower end of the tube H2, so it will engage such tube to lift the creasing-head on the upward movement of the rod I.

' In the operation of the end-cutter F and creasing devices it will be noticed that if a downward movement be imparted to the rods I the knife will be carried downward until its cutting edge cuts against a bed-cutt-er, as shown at K, operating with a shearing action to cut the end of the shade off clean, as desired. As the blade F approaches its cutting position the nut I2 will engage upon the creasing-head and carry the same downward to crease the curtain on opposite sides of the cutter.

In rear of the knife F and between the middle creasing-rib 7L and the rear one of such ribs I form the bed-plate with a longitudinal recess L, in which is fitteda bar M, supported on springs M, bearing between its under side and the base of the recess M and acting normally to press the bar M upward to a point above the upper surface of the bed-plate. In the operation of the device when the creasing-ribs h rest upon the goods before they press such goods down in the grooves g this bar stands upward and elevates the goods between the said ribs. As the creasing-ribs are forced downward into their grooves with the goods the bar M is pressed downward, allowing the goods to be creased without tearing. This bar therefore forms between the two creasing devices a yielding guide, which is projected by springs prior to the creasing operation and may be depressed as the creasing operation proceeds in order to avoid the tearing of the goods by the taking up of the material by the creasing operation, as will be readily understood from the drawings. This guide-bar M also operates when the creasing head is elevated after the creasing operation to lift the goods out of the creasing-head.

The toothed pinion h on the upper end of the feed-shaft B operates the rack-bar of the gage stop mechanism by which to control the feed of the material through the rollers B and C and so control the length of shade to be cut o. This gage mechanism is shown in det-ail in Fig. 3 and includes a rack-bar N, which is meshed with the rollel` b and is provided with a slide N' which is moved alonft the gage-bar yO, which may be graduated or otherwise 4marked, as desired, and is provided with an adjustable stop O' in the form of a block secured upon the said bar O in any desired adjustment by means of a clamping-screw O2. It will be noticed that the operation of the upper feed-shaft B will move the rack-bar N in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 as the material is fed between the rollers B and C, and the said rack-bar N is actuated in the opposite direction by a spring N2, (see Fig. 3,) which returns the rack-bar to its normal posit-ion after the end knife F has been operated by means of the mechanism presently described. It will be noticed that one end of the rack-bar is connected with the slide N', while its other end is movable vertically, so it can be adjusted into and out of meshing with the pinion b. Such free end of the rack-bar is held in the slotted guide N3, and the spring N4 bears upon the rack-bar to press into mesh with the pinion b and yet permit it to be forced out of such mesh when the knife F has been lowered to cutting position.

-To this end I provide a rocking lever P,which lool IIO

8 and 3a and the other figures it will be noticedthat when the cutter F is lowered to cutting position the projection Is will engage the inner end P2 of the lever P and will cause an upward movement of the roller P4 to lift the rack-bar N out of mesh with the opening b, so the spring N2 can return the said rack-bar to its starting-point, the roller P'L operating as a guide for the rack-bar in its return movement. Y

In the operation ofthe gage mechanism it will be noticed from Fig. 3 that when the parts are in normal position the guide Nt will be at the unit-point, and the stop O will be adjusted along the bar O, according to the length of shade desired. If now motion be imparted to the machine by turning the handcrank Q, which is suitably geared with the lower roller C, it will be noticed that the pinion b willoperate upon the rack-bar N4 to move the guide N along the bar O until such guide N is stopped against the stop O". Then the end lever .I maybe operated to set the knife F to cut off the end of the shade, and such operation will by means of the lever P and other described devices free the rackbar from mesh with the-pinion b,and the spring N2 will readj ust the gage stop mechanism to the starting-point. 1

It will be noticed that the rocking lever P forms a trigger for operation bythe cutter mechanism to free the gagestopmechanism from its connection with the devices for cutting the shade, so the operation of the cutter will readj ust the gage stop mechanismto its starting-point. It will be understood from the preceding description that when the rod I is raised by the operationof 'the end Vlever J" the projection I3 will engage thetube H2, and thereby raise the creasing-head to its uppermost position at the same time the knife Fis raised by the connection thereofwith the rod O. As the rod I is lowered, the tube H2, with the head H, moves downward until the creasing-ribs h rest upon the shade material,when a further downward movement will cause the creasing-head and knife F to descend farther, creasing the material and cutting it off at the end as desired.

In proceeding to make shades by the described machine the roll of goods is placed on the reel-shaft D, which may have suitable adjustable guides d and be removably secured in the framing, and the goods pass from this reel-shaft D over the guide-roller D to the feed-rollers on the shafts D and C, thence below theknife F, between the bed-plate G and the creasing-head H, to thetable R,Where the end of the shade material is fastened to the roller, and the roller is placed in the hollow winding-rod E, before described. VThe machine is then putin motion by turning the crank Q, which will be operated until the gage stop mechanism stops the machine, at which time the length of the shade is measured or determined. The lever J' is then pulled forward, bringing the creasing-head down on the goods and holding it into position to be cut, which is accomplished by a ping the roller off, when the shade is ready for sewing.

By my machine I secure a great saving of time, enable the shades to be kept much cleaner than when trimmed by hand, secure truer cleaner cut'edges, and a more regular hem. At the same time the machine will take up less room than a trimming-table, does not require any expense to operate it, and can be used lt-o cut shades of any desired length and width. l

lIn'Fi'g; 7 I show a somewhat different lform of cutterwhich may be used when desiredin place of the cutter F shown in the other'gures and before described:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, isM l 1. In a machine substantially as described,

:the combination of the end feed-rollers, the

cutters for cutting o' the side edges of the shades, a bed-plate over which the shade is passed, 'said bed-plate being provided with creasing-grooves and with a longitudinal recess and with a bearing against which the end-cutter blade may operate, a guide-bar titting in the recess' of the bed-plate, springs supporting said guide-bar and normally elevatin g the same above the surface of the bedplate, the creasing-head provided with depending ribs to operate in the grooves of the bed-plate, the knife or cutter movable toward and from the bed-plate, and means for operating the said knife and creasing-head, substantially asset forth.

2. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of a bed-plate, a creasinghead operating toward and from the same, a knife for cutting off the end of the shade and means lfor supporting and operating such knife and creasing-head, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the bed-plate, the creasing-head movable toward and from the same and provided with the curved guide-straps, the blade forcuttingo the ends of the shades and operating inthe curved guide-straps and means foroperating the creasing-head and end-cutter, Vsubstantially as described.

4. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the bed-plate, the creasing-head having front and rear portions and curved straps connecting the same, the end- IOC4 IIO

cutter blade operating within the curved guide-straps, and means for operating the end-cutter and the creasing-head, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination with creasing devices spaced apart, of a yielding guide between said creasing devices and arranged to be normally projected and to be depressed by the stress of the goods during the creasing operation, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the bed plate having creasing-grooves and a longitudinal recess between the same, and the spring-pressed guidebar normally projecting abovel the bed-plate between the creasing-grooves, the creasinghead having depending ribs operating in the grooves of the bed-plate, the end-cutter, and means for operating the end-cutter and the creasing-head, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a machine substantially as described, of the bed-plate having openings for the guide-rods of the end-cutter and for the operating-rods and the tubes of the creasing-head, the creasing-head having openings for the operating rods, and the guide-rods, of the end-cutter the tubes connected with the creasing-head and extending below the bed-plate, the end-cutter having its guide-rods extending within the openings therefor in the creasing-head, the operatingrods provided with means for operating the cutter and the creasing-head, and means for operating such operating-rods, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination in a machine substantially as described of the vertically-movable knife for cutting oif the ends of the shades, the verticallymovable creasing head provided with means for creasing the shades, the vertically-movable operating rods provided with means for operating the creasing-head, and the end-cutter, and means for operating such rods, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the end-cutter, the bedplate having creasinggrooves and guide-openings for the guide-rods of the cutter and for the creasing-head tubes, and the operatingrods, the guide-rods for the cutter, the creasing-head having curved guide-'straps for the cutter and provided with the tubes depending below the bed-plate, the operating-rods movable within said tubes, and provided with projections to engage the lower ends of the tubes,means whereby the operating-rods may be actuated, and means for operating the said rods, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a machine substantially as described, the combination with a cutter for cutting olf the ends of the shades, the creasing devices operating adjacent to said end-cutter, the lever, and means whereby the lever may operate both the end-cutter and the creasing devices, substantially as set forth.

11.. In a machine substantially as described,

the combination of the bed-plate, the creasing-head movable toward and from the said bed-plate and provid ed with creasing devices spaced apart, and a yielding guide device arranged between the creasing devices,substan tially as set forth.

12. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the infeed-rollers arranged adjacent to the front of the machine, the table at the rear of the machine, cutters for cutting ed the side edges of the shades, the end cutter, the creasing devices, a hand-crank adjacent to the rear table, means whereby said hand-crank may operate the infeed-rollers, gage stop mechanism arranged for automatic operation by the infeed-rollers, means for operating the end-cutter, and devices whereby to release the gage stop mechanism when the end-knife is adjusted to cutting position, substantially as set forth.

13. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination with the cutter for cutting olf the end of the shade and means for feeding the shade material, and a gage stop mechanism for operation by the feed mechanism,of mechanism whereby the operation of the end-cutter may free the gage stop mechanism from its connection with the feed mechanism to permit the readj ustment of the gage stop mechanism to its initial position af ter the end-cutter has been operated, substantially as set forth.

14. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the shaft having a pinion for operating the gage stop mechanism and a gage stop mechanism having a rack-bar normally meshed with the feed-roller pinion and arranged to be freed from such mesh, a spring for readjusting the rack-bar, and a stop for limiting the movement of the rack-bar by the operation of the feed-roller pinion, substantially as set forth.

15. In a machine substantially as described, the combination of the infeed mechanism having a pinion, the gage stop mechanism having a rack-bar arranged to mesh with said pinion, a spring for pressing the said rack-bar into mesh with the pinion a stop to limit the movement of the rack-bar by the said pinion, means for separating the rack and pinion and means for readjusting the rack-bar when released from the pinion, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of the infeed mechanism, a gage stop mechanism arranged for operation by the infeed mechanism, the knife for cutting the ends of the shade, and means in connection with the knife whereby the operation of the latter will eiiect the release of the stop mechanism from the infeed mechan ism, substantially as set forth.

17. In a machine substantially as described, the combination with the infeed devices and the knife for cutting off the end of the shade, of a gage stop mechanism having a bar geared with the infeed mechanism and provided with a slide, a guide-bar along which said slide op- IOO IIO

crates a stop on the bar for engagement by such slide, a pivoted lever provided at one end with means by which to adjust ,the bar of the stop mechanism out of gear with the feed mechanism, and the rod for operating the endcutter provided with means for engagement with the inner end of said lever by which the movement of the knife may free the ystop mechanism from its engagement with the infeed mechanism, substantially as set forth.

18. A machine for trimming shades having infeed devices for Jthe shade material, a cutter for cutting off the ends of the shades, a

stop gage mechanism by Which to stop the infeed mechanism when the desired length of shade has been fed into the machine, means for operatin g the stop gage mechanism by the infeed mechanism, and devices whereby the operation of the end-cutter may free the stop gage mechanism from operative engagement With the infeed mechanism, substantially as set forth.

FRANK L. FISHER. Witnesses:

BERNARD WRIGHT, ALBERT A. HUGHES. 

